SOUTHWEST STAR CONCEPT SCHOOL

Board of Education Meeting

October 18, 2005

 

The Board of Education of Independent School District #330 held its regular meeting on Tuesday, October 18, 2005, in the Board Room in Heron Lake.  Larry Diemer, John Stenzel, Dale Hesemann, Steve Droll, Harvey Kruger, Jill Liepold, and ex officio Becky Cselovszki, Superintendent, were present.  Deb Mathias, Cindy Scheevel, Jen Koep, Janeen Baumgard, Cindy DeWall, Michele Cranston, Curt Mischke, Tami Mischke, Carmen Rasche, Gina Rasche, and Scott Place were also present. 

 

John Stenzel, chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. A quorum was declared with all members present.  Hesemann moved, seconded by Droll to approve the agenda with the additional items.  The motion carried.  Kruger moved, seconded by Diemer to approve the minutes of the regular board meeting of September 20, 2005.  The motion carried.  Hesemann moved, seconded by Kruger, to approve the Treasurer’s report.  The motion carried.  Hesemann moved, seconded by Droll to approve the payment of the following bills, with contention of entry #64 tuition verification.  The motion carried. 

 

                        GENERAL FUND                                               $168,870.68

                        FEDERAL PROGRAMS                                              770.13

                        ATHLETICS/ACTIVITIES                               1,956.57

                        FOOD SERVICE                                                      7,376.83

                        COMMUNITY EDUCATION                                          464.44

                        DEBT REDEMPTION                                                      0.00

 

                        TOTAL                                                              $179,438.65

                        TOTAL GROSS PAYROLL, OCTOBER 2005          166,293.05

                        FIXED CHARGES                                                  24,443.63

 

Deb Mathias gave the Activities Director’s Report.  Jason Fischer had participation numbers for the wellness center.  An enhancement program will be offered during the winter months. 

 

A policy was developed for all volunteer coaches to be added to the Coach’s Handbook.  Each candidate must have a written recommendation from the head coach, a background check, approval of the Board, and the athlete numbers warrant an extra coach.  Droll moved, seconded by Hesemann to approve this policy.  The motion carried. 

 

The wrestling and gymnastic programs will be offered with the JCC district.  The JCC district will prorate the activity fee if a participant drops out of the program.  Hesemann moved, seconded by Diemer to discontinue providing transportation for the athletes.  The motion carried.

 

According to the requirements outlined in the Coach’s Handbook, the following winter sports coaches were recommended.  For Boys Basketball, the head coach would be Tim Owen, assistant coach would be Doyle Zellar, and the Jr. High coach would be Tim Spencer.  Coaches for the Girls Basketball would be Les Knutson as head coach, Keith Place as assistant coach and Dane Nielsen as the Jr. High coach.  Diemer moved, seconded by Kruger to approve the recommendations.  After a discussion period led by the parents that were in attendance, chairman Stenzel brought the motion to a vote.  The motion passed.  The winter eligibility meeting is set for November 8.

 

Mathias then gave the TEAM report.  The elementary students just finished their cookie dough fundraiser and raised $6,100.  It will pay off the balance of the playground equipment.  There will be a Book Fair during school conferences, which will be held on November 15 and 17.  The Veteran’s Day program will be held on November 11 at 11:30 at the elementary school.  Bonnie Olson from the Heron Lake Auxiliary has a guest speaker.

 

Cindy Scheevel gave the Dean of Students report for the High School.  There were 161 students and parents that attended conferences on October 10.  Twenty students will be leaving on Sunday, October 23, to go to the National FFA convention in Louisville, KY.  The Fall Band/Choir concert will be held on November 7.  The Veteran’s Day program at the High School will be on November 11 at 10:00.  Janet Kruger from the Okabena Legion will be coordinating the program.  Students will be selling red “I support our Troops” bracelets.  The proceeds go to the VFW for the costs of the bracelets and to the VA Hospitals.

 

Becky Cselovszki gave the Superintendent’s report.  There have been three negotiation meetings and they are going well.  Meet and Confer dates will be scheduled at 6:00 before our January and March Board meetings.  The work by G+R Performance was submitted for Health and Safety levy funds up to $72,000.  The ’06 Junior class has had a scrap metal drive and a raffle to fund their post prom activities.  They are planning to have activities off school grounds.

 

The Student Council is planning a trip to the Guthrie Theatre to see Christmas Carol on November 23.  A down payment has been paid to hold the tickets.  They will be having two more fundraisers for this trip.  Liepold moved, seconded by Stenzel to approve the trip, depending on if the Student Council arranges activities for the students that don’t attend the trip, or the possibility of setting the date on a Saturday.  The motion carried.  Jen Koep is to remind the Student Council to approve the trips before any fundraisers or down payments are made. 

 

HL-O Foundation will be having a Dinner Theater on November 19.  Chris Schmitz will cater the meal and the musical is called Kokonut Kapers. 

 

Kruger moved, seconded by Droll, to approve one secondary student and one elementary student from the Round Lake District.  The motion carried.

 

Spencer Howard submitted a letter of resignation upon completion of the current school year.  This is a shared position with the SVRLB district.  Stenzel moved seconded by Diemer to accept the resignation.  The motion carried.  Thank you, Mr. Spencer Howard for sharing your talents with our students for many years. 

 

Droll moved, seconded by Hesemann, to approve the advertising for the teaching vacancies of a shared art teacher position and a long-term substitute  for the second grade for a maternity leave.  The motion carried.

 

Stenzel moved, seconded by Hesemann, to approve the fundraiser for the fifth grade.  They will be running a Lemonade stand for Hurricane Katrina victims.  The motion carried. 

 

Kruger moved, seconded by Hesemann to approve the staff development report for the ’04-’05 school year.  The motion carried. 

 

Superintendent Cselovszki submitted a change to be adopted into the student handbook.  It specifies that the student must be attending school for the entire day before an extra-curricular activity in order to be eligible.  Exceptions would be medical appointments or pre-approved absences.  Hesemann moved seconded by Droll to approve the policy change.  The motion carried.  It will be discussed at the winter eligibility meeting on November 8.

 

Hesemann moved, seconded by Droll to adjourn the meeting.  The motion carried.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Jill Liepold, clerk